Packaging consumption in Germany fell significantly in 2023.
 

This is according to the latest ‘Recycling Balance for Packaging’ from the Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung (GVM). According to the report, consumption in 2023 fell by almost 7 per cent or around 1.1 million tonnes to 17.9 million tonnes across all materials compared to the previous year. According to GVM, the recycling rate for all packaging materials rose by 0.7 percentage points year-on-year to 84.9 per cent. According to the data, paper/cardboard/carton accounted for the largest share of packaging consumption at 43 per cent, followed by glass at around one third. Metal packaging accounted for 6 per cent and aluminium packaging for 2 per cent. According to GVM's recycling balance, plastics accounted for almost 17 per cent of total packaging consumption in 2023. According to the survey, their consumption has fallen by 5.8 per cent compared to the previous year. By contrast, demand for composite packaging, both plastic and paper-based, has increased, according to GVM.
 
Sources:

• Kunststoffweb (3.2.2025)
• Photo: © Charles Gao / Unsplash